BritRail Spirit of Scotland Rail Pass

International exclusiveNot available to buy in the UK

Experience Scotland train tours with the BritRail Spirit of Scotland Pass. Watch the country unfold from your window on the trains of Scotland, from the historic charm of Edinburgh to the trendy nightlife of Glasgow. Or step away from the cities, and discover the glorious Highlands, the untamed islands, and iconic attractions like Loch Ness and Scotland’s legendary Old Course in St. Andrews.

Ride the rails any four days out of an eight-day period, or as many as eight days out of 15. With this kind of flexibility, you can really get to know the country. You’ll also be able to hop on Caledonian MacBrayne ferries if you do want to explore the islands of Scotland’s magnificent coast.

Why buy in advance?

International exclusive – The pass is not available to buy in the UK, and can only be purchased before your arrival.

Huge savings – The BritRail Spirit of Scotland Pass will save you money, as this Scottish rail pass works out a lot cheaper when compared to buying individual train tickets in Scotland for each journey over several days.

Unlimited journeys – Want flexibility? You can travel as much as you like on each day your pass is valid, and not be stuck to a rigid schedule.

Please note that the BritRail Spirit of Scotland Pass is not an e-voucher. This is a physical ticket that will be mailed out to you. When ordering a pass, you need to print this document containing important details, and take it with you when you travel. Please ensure you select your date of arrival in Britain to allow sufficient time for your order to reach you.

This product is sold by VisitBritain and is provided by our supplier, ACP Marketing.

Unlimited travel on the trains of Scotland from morning until night throughout the country, including ferries to the various Scottish islands

Valid on all operator services within Scotland, including travel to/from Carlisle and Berwick Upon Tweed

Bus travel is included on selected routes, primarily for exploration of sites that are off the beaten path

The BritRail Spirit of Scotland Pass is available in Standard Class only

This Scottish rail pass allows you to explore the country with flexibility, by allowing you to hop on and off the trains as you wish

20% discount on Northlink Ferries standard fares between Scrabster-Stromness; Aberdeen-Lerwick; and Aberdeen-Kirkwall-Lerwick (valid only on day of sailing, and applies to reclining seat fares only, not cabin inclusive)

Passes cannot be used to travel before 9:15am Mondays to Fridays, (except between Glasgow-Oban/Fort William/Mallaig and Inverness-Kyle/Wick/Thurso.)

Click here for a full map of Britain to find out which BritRail Pass works best for you.

Ordering your pass

Firstly, you will need to enter number of passes required for each type and duration

You will need to provide the names of all passengers (except children under 5)

Free child passes – purchase any adult or senior BritRail pass and we will send you a child BritRail pass of the same type and duration for free.

Your passes will be posted to you – so you will need to ensure you leave enough time for them to reach you before you depart for the UK

BritRail Spirit of Scotland passes are only available in Adult Standard Class, meaning that the pass is valid for Adult Standard Class seating.

Please note: The BritRail Spirit of Scotland Pass can be cancelled within 72 hours of purchase

Activating your pass

The BritRail Spirit of Scotland Pass allows you to explore Scotland by hopping on and off as many trains as you wish within your designated travel zone.

Activate your pass on the first day you want to travel.

Take your pass, and a valid ID (i.e. a passport) to any staffed ticket office at a UK train station where it will be stamped.

Pass can be validated up to 6 months after the departure date you stated when ordering

BritRail Spirit of Scotland Pass permits the holder to choose the travel days within the period of validity. Passes are available for 4 days within 8 days or 8 days within 15 days.

As a bonus, this pass also covers travel on Caledonian MacBrayne and Strathclyde ferries to islands, as well as bus services including Scottish Citylink services, Stagecoach in Fife bus services, First Edinburgh bus services, Highland country bus services, and Bowman coaches.

Restrictions

BritRail passes are not available for UK residents; this includes International Students who are studying in the UK for more than six months.

Passes cannot be used to travel before 9:15am Mondays to Fridays, (except between Glasgow-Oban/Fort William/Mallaig and Inverness-Kyle/Wick/Thurso.)

Why should I buy a BritRail Pass from VisitBritain?

You get preferential rates as a foreign national

The tickets are generally much cheaper than if you were to buy individual train tickets when you get to the UK

Huge flexibility – hop on and off any train while your pass is valid, without worrying about ticket restrictions or changing your plans!

You save time queuing

Where do I activate / validate my BritRail Spirit of Scotland Pass?

Before you can start to use your BritRail Pass you must have it activated. To do this, please take along your BritRail Pass and your ID (preferably a passport) to the ticket office at the train station you wish to make your first journey from.

The ticket staff will then activate your pass for you. You can then board the train and, if asked, please show your ticket to the ticket inspector. You must fill in the date of any journey on your ticket before boarding a train.

How far in advance can I buy my BritRail pass?

You can purchase a BritRail pass up to 6 months ahead of your intended travel date.

Where can I find train timetables?

For information regarding train times in Scotland, please click on www.nationalrail.co.uk. This is a really useful website for planning your trains to Edinburgh, Glasgow, the rest of Scotland, and throughout the UK.

All you need to do is go to the Journey Planner tab, type in your departure station, and which station you’d like to get to along with the date you intend to travel. The search engine will bring up all the details you will need (times, stops, changes if needed, facilities on board etc.).

How many train journeys can I make on one day?

You can make as many journeys as you like in one day. The passes are restricted by days, not by journeys. A day is classified as one calendar day – not 24 hours from the start of the journey. You therefore need to commence your last journey of the day before midnight.

What happens if there are no trains?

If you have a BritRail consecutive pass and there are no trains on a day during your pass validity (e.g. Christmas Day), you can visit a ticket office to get your pass extended. Your pass will then be valid for one additional day. Please note that if your train is cancelled, but you are able to take an alternate route or a replacement bus, you will not be eligible for a pass extension.

Is there a tour guide included?

No, there are no tour guides on BritRail trains.

Can I buy food and drink on trains in the UK?

Most trains in the UK have either a shop or a trolley service on board, selling sandwiches, snacks and drinks.

Do I need to make seat reservations?

It is not essential to reserve seats on all trains. Generally speaking, it is only really necessary to make reservations if you plan to travel on a popular route (e.g. London to Edinburgh) at a peak time (e.g. Friday at 18.00).

To make a reservation with a BritRail Pass, you will need to take your BritRail Pass to the station that you are going to travel from and the ticketing staff will make the seat reservations for you (for a small fee).

Is there a luggage restriction with BritRail Passes?

There is no specific luggage limit, but please be considerate to other passengers who may also be travelling with luggage. Most trains have small overhead luggage racks and at least 1 luggage compartment per carriage.

BritRail passes are only available to non-UK residents, and international passport holders. You may purchase a BritRail pass if you are a UK passport holder providing that you have not resided in Britain consistently for the previous 6 months. You may also be asked to present proof of return travel from Britain during onboard train ticket inspections.